Many intentional communities share the aspiration of creating a more positive future through a spiritual approach to everyday life, and by exploring more sustainable ways of living based on higher levels of human consciousness.
By making it possible for members of communities to visit each other and experience different cultures in an environment conducive to learning, exchanging ideas, personal growth and nourishing personal connections, greater understanding and appreciation of our unity in diversity can develop.
In the spirit of the Network of Light, strengthening connections between communities, the Findhorn Foundation has established community exchange agreements with the like-minded communities listed below and your community is invited to join this exchange!
USA/CANADA
Esalen
Renowned alternative education centre and community in a beautiful setting on the west coast of California, with hot tubs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Combine a visit with a longer trip to Canada or in the US.
www.esalen.org
Lama Foundation
A spiritual community founded by Ram Das and others in the 1970’s in the mountains of sunny New Mexico.
www.lamafoundation.org
Sky Meadow Retreat
This is a beautiful, small community in Vermont and an ideal place to relax and unwind.
www.skymeadowretreat.com
Hollyhock
“Our spectacular natural setting on Cortes Island in British Columbia is an ideal backdrop for transformative experiences.” Hollyhock would love to have visitors who can give presentations and sharings in depth about how The Foundation works and runs.
www.hollyhock.ca
Twin Oaks
A working community in Virginia that amongst other things is experimenting with alternative economic systems.
www.twinoaks.org
THAILAND
Wongsanit Ashram
The ashram was established in 1985 as an intentional community for simple living and for engaging in social action and spiritual peace. This is a great opportunity to experience a community in the “two-thirds world”.
www.sulak-sivaraksa.org
INDIA
Auroville
This is such a decentralized community that they are not able to create a community exchange programme. However,they are still open to trying to create an exchange-like visit for you, if you know Auroville is the place you’re drawn to visit.
www.auroville.org
EUROPE
Cortijo Romero
A beautiful workshop centre in sunny, southern Spain. They prefer community exchange between October and May (excluding Christmas, New Year and Easter).
www.cortijo-romero.co.uk
Holy Island
An Interfaith Centre linked with Samye Ling Monastery, run by Sean a South African monk. It’s on the west coast of Scotland and has workshops, retreats etc. An ideal place for peace and inspiration not too far from the Findhorn Foundation.
www.holyisland.org
Tamera
A community of about 200 people in southern Portugal that focuses on peace work, sustainable living, connection with nature and youth education.
www.tamera.org
Zegg
A German community with whom the FF have many mutually beneficial exchanges. They started as a social experiment, with emphasis on transparency in relationships. They now have a strong ecological focus and growing spiritual awareness. The summer camp is a great experience which is highly recommended by previous participants.
www.zegg.de
Conditions and further information
This programme is available for all full time co-workers who have been in the Findhorn Foundation for two years or more. The exchanges generally come out of your holiday/personal time. However, for longer exchanges other arrangements are negotiable. Visit the web to find out more about the communities.
FF co-workers can visit without having to pay the usual accommodation fees. During an exchange the hosting community provide you with accommodation and food for free. You pay for your own transport to and from the community. Pocket money is the responsibility of the visiting person or their community.
Different communities have different availability and conditions, e.g. some involve some kind of work exchange. If you do a workshop you may have to pay something.
A formal agreement is set up for each individual exchange.
If your community is interested in joining the FF community exchange programme, or if you’re a FF co-worker and would like to make an application to one of the communities listed above, please contact Caroline Matters via email caroline.matters@findhorn.org for more details.
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